Wide-field fundus fluorescein angiogram assisted photocoagulation on familial exudative vitreoretinopathy

Abstract

Objective To observe the application value and therapeutic efficacy of wide-field digital pediatric retinal imaging system (Retcam Ⅲ) fundus fluorescein angiograms (FFA) assisted photocoagulation on familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR). Methods The study included 46 eyes of 34 patients with staging 2 FEVR. All patients received color fundus photography and FFA under general anesthesia. The blood vessel reliability of color fundus photography and FFA was comparatively determined. Binocular indirect ophthalmoscope laser photocoagulation was applied to peripheral retina with abnormal leakage as indicated by FFA, the wavelength was 532nm, the duration was 0.25 s and the energy was 200 - 280 mW. After laser photocoagulation, fundus imaging and FFA was repeated. Further laser photocoagulation was immediately added to areas with vessel leakage but missing the photocoagulation. After treatment, the mean follow-up duration was 14.4 months. The follow up focused on neovascularization, exudative lesions, vitreous traction and merging of photocoagulation spots within 3 months, and on fibrosis membrane resulting in macular traction, tractional retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage or Coats disease-like retinal exudates after 3 months. Results It was hard to identify the blood vessels based on the color fundus images and some avascular zone maybe missed. Neovascularization can't be determined by shape of the blood vessels. On the other hand, those new blood vessels can be easily recognized by FFA as leakage sites at the boundary of avascular zone. The surgeon could quickly and accurately locate the FEVR area guided by the color fundus images and FFA from same angle under binocular indirect ophthalmoscope. During the treatment, there was no retinal FEVR area missed laser photocoagulation for all patients. There was no neovascularization, exudative lesions, vitreous traction within 3 months, and no fibrosis membrane, tractional retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage or Coats disease-like retinal exudates after 3 months. There were no ocular and systemic complications during and after the FFA and laser photocoagulation. Conclusion Wide-field Retcam Ⅲ FFA can help retinal specialists to identify abnormal neovascularization, locate the lesion area, and thus increase the success rate of laser photocoagulation, reduce the ocular and systemic complications for FEVR. Key words: Retinal diseases/congenital; Retinal diseases/diagnosis; Fluorescein angiography; Retinal diseases/therapy; Laser coagulation